My computer crashes when I try to play PC games?

[DinoCrisisFreak]

For some reason whenever I play a computer game, my computer automatically restarts itself. Either before the game starts or after I close the game. This has done this to me with Company of Heroes Online (this game doesn't work on my computer anymore anyway, but when I started it), Aliens vs Predator Classic 2000 (when I started it), and now MechWarrior 3 (when I closed it). However I tried playing AvP Classic 2000 again and it worked. I don't know why it does this, I have all of my drivers and everything, so why does my computer automatically just instantly turn off and then turn back on? After it turns back on it says that Windows has a serious problem and asks me to send an error report, apparently the problem lies somewhere with these two files or something:

C:\DOCUME~1\Kevin\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERab4b.dir00\Mini011111-01.dmp
C:\DOCUME~1\Kevin\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERab4b.dir00\sysdata.xml

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Those two files are the data dumps that Windows makes when it crashes. They arent what's actually causing the crashes.

First off, tell us which version of Windows you're using. In fact, give us a little more info about your setup. Secondly, you will want to make sure that your computer is not set to automatically reboot on crash/BSOD. This can be done from Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup and Recovery Settings. You will want to uncheck 'Automatically Restart'. If you have Windows Vista or 7, the settings will be located in Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced > Startup and Recovery Settings.

 

[Zelig]

In system properties > advanced > startup and recovery settings > is "automatically restart" unchecked?

If your computer is turning off otherwise, it's generally a power supply or motherboard hardware problem.